In this post, we will look at another side of Edmonton, another part of downtown Jasper Avenue. This part is much less modern, classy and comfortable, but perhaps with a beauty of its own (if you will allow your mind to see things in that light).

I’m talking about a part of downtown that is across the street from Canada Place, kitty-corner from the convention center and right on the mighty and historic Jasper Avenue, but the block east of 97th street is in another world. The actual northeast corner of 97th Street and Jasper Avenue is home of one of Edmonton’s most renowned restaurants, the Hardware Grill (the name coming from the fact that the building was once home to the bustling old-time W.W. Arcade hardware store).

The attractive brick and yellow trim of the Hardware Grill

At the top right of the above photo is Jasper Avenue; turning the corner you enter another world:

The old tavern

This old bar, just east of the Goodridge Building is the last of the seedy old bars in Edmonton’s east end. Next to it, a vacant lot:

An empty lot on Jasper Avenue in downtown Edmonton

It has long bewildered me why this section of Jasper Avenue, with its proximity to the central core and with great views over the river valley, has not been redeveloped. It does however still retain some historic old buildings so I’d not like to see them lost.

Next to the east, is one of those historic old buildings, the Brighton (Ernest Brown) Block. This three story brick building and the one next to it are beautiful but have definitely seen better days. Fortunately, this property has been recognized as a Municipal Historic Resource:

The building seems to have been vacant for many years now – the doors and many windows boarded up:

A “home” on Jasper Avenue

Don’t Give Up

Boarded-up and Postered

Next to (east of) the Brighton Block is the old Lodge Hotel. This building has been undergoing some exciting renovation to turn it into the Ukrainian Canadian Archives and Museum (UCAMA). Unfortunately,the project ran out of money so is currently on hold.

Historic Doorway

An edge of renewal (steelwork for the UCAMA renovation at top)

A stark contrast between the two ends of this half block of Jasper Avenue but coincidentally both bookends feature yellow.

Yellow Brick

Addendum: After posting this blog I took a photo (below) from across the river showing the Brighton (Ernest Brown) Block and Lodge Hotel / UCAMA renovation – quite a different look from the shots that were all taken from the sidewalk next to the buildings.

Another (the third) in my unplanned series of portraits of Edmonton citizens. What I find interesting is that these people all asked me to take their photo. I never went out planning to take portraits of random people on the street, I never asked them if I could take their photo. They asked me and I have had no reason not to.

Street Portrait

This gentleman approached me as I was walking home. He said to me, something to the effect, “May I ask you a question?; please don’t judge me” He went on to tell me his story: He has had better days but now finds himself homeless, living in the river valley. Most saddening he says he has lung cancer and only 2 months to live.

Nonetheless, he appeared strong, his voice and spirit, that afternoon. He asked me to take his photo and asked if I would post it online. I said I probably would if that was okay with him. Regrettably I did not write down his name and have forgotten. But we shall not forget his face and spirit.

As we approach Thanksgiving Day 2014, I would like to share an experience of mine from this past week. Before I tell the story though take a look at this portrait photo that I took of my neighbor:

A proud and serious man, my neighbor. Well I call him my neighbor but I don’t really know him. I just met him in my neighborhood one afternoon last week as I was walking home from work.

I was walking (my camera around my neck as it often is) and coming down some stairs where three people were sitting. They were spread right across the stairs but as they saw me coming they cleared a way for me to get by them. Once past them, the older of the three spoke to me. He said “Do you want to take a picture of three homeless”. I was a little surprised by this but said “Sure, if you want me to”. So he quickly set up on the stair below and between the other two and I snapped this photo:

I took the picture, said “I got it” and continued on my way. Nothing more was said but I have thought a lot about this simple encounter since then. Were they really homeless? Would that matter? What was their story? How nice that he/they would just ask to have their photo taken – and pose seriously and proudly. He did not ask for a copy of the picture, just somehow wanted to have his image recorded for posterity. He would not know that I would post this (it didn’t even occur to me at the time) and normally I wouldn’t without the subjects okay but somehow it seems like posting this proud image of my neighbor is the right thing to do.